COLUMBUS, Ohio — Good health practices for raising organic animals will be the focus of a March 18 Ohio symposium. 

Future direction in research and education will also be discussed.

The event’s focus will be on the health of livestock in organic farming systems, according to Gustavo Schuenemann, assistant professor, Ohio State University Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and an extension veterinarian. Other topics include a discussion of practices and needs in future research and education.

The speakers will be university faculty and experts from the organic industry, including:

•Jennifer Walker, director of stewardship, Dean Foods

•Pam Rugg, professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Dairy Science

•Juan Velez, senior vice president of farm operations, Aurora Organic Dairy

•Mike Lilburn, professor, OSU Department of Animal Sciences, who holds joint appointments with extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC)

•Guy Jodarski, staff veterinarian, Organic Valley

•Paivi Rajala-Schultz, associate professor, OSU Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine

•Gustavo Schuenemann

The event will be from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Blackwell Inn and Conference Center, 2110 Tuttle Park Place, on the OSU campus in Columbus. Admission is free and open to anyone interested in organic farming and livestock health, including scientists, extension specialists, veterinary practitioners, farmers and consumers.

Lunch is included. Advance registration is required by March 11 because of limited space. The event is sponsored by the OSU Veterinary Extension program, part of the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, and OARDC’s Organic Food and Farming Education and Research program.

For more information, email Schuenemann at schuen

emann.5@osu.edu or call 614-292-6924; or Jeff Workman, at workman.45@osu.edu or 614-292-9453. Participants should register online at http://go.osu.edu/RdJ